Attachment plug



Dec. 26, 1933. s. M. WEISBEVRG 1,941,374

ATTACHMENT PLUG Original Filed Sept. 9, 1929 Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 9, 1929, Serial No. 391,274

Renewed September 14, 1933 3 Claims.

My invention relates to attachment plugs for connecting electric circuits.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved plug having resilient means for holding the rigid coupling blades of the plug in firm contact with the spring leaf conductors located in the socket portion of the coupling.

Referring to the drawing 'which'forms a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved plug' located opposite the female coupling member of the plug in which the spring leaf conductors are indicated in dotted lines; this portion of the plug being of the usual construction now on the market.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the coupling end of the plug shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 22 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical view of Fig. 1, taken on line 3-3 thereof, and showing the interior of the cap portion.

Fig. 4 is an end 'view of the body portion' of the plug with the cap portion removed.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view of a plug in which one blade member is held substantially rigid as heretofore made, and the other blade is carried on a resilient conducting strip as shown in Fig. 1.

The body of the plug consists of a portion and a cap portion 11 formed of insulating material. In all of the figures-except Fig. 5, the body is formed with two similar chambers 12, oppositely disposed and formed to provide parallel side walls 13, which are spaced apart sub-.- stantially the width of the rigid contacting blade members 14 and handles 15 located in said chambers.- The shape of these chambers is clearly shown in the drawing and is such that the body portions may be very easily moulded from insulating plastic material of which they are made. The blade members 14, are of the same width and thickness as those heretofore used in connection plugs, and project the same length from the face thereof so that the plug may be used with the socket members of plugs now in general use. The handles are made of insulating rod or moulded material and are respectively connected to the adjacent ends of a blade 14 and a resilient conducting strip 16 in firm relation.

The other end is firmly connected, together with a sheet metal stamping 17, to the inner face of the cap 11, by an eyelet 18, the inner end of which is fastened in the cap in the moulding operationthereof in the usual manner, and the opposite open end extends through holes in the elements 16 and 17 and is expended or upset to rivet the parts firmly together, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art. oppositely disposed screws 19, screw into the respective stamping 17 to serve as binding posts for the terminals of the conducting wires 20, which extend through a central hole 21, formed in the cap in the usual manner.

' When the blades 14 are forced into parallel relation against the spring resistance of the strips 16 as shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 1, they abut the surface 23, and are held in position to properly enter the respective sockets 24, of the cooperating coupling member 25.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that one half of the plug is constructed as illustrated in Fig. 1, while the other half is constructed as heretofore.

This construction is slightly cheaper in cost of manufacture than that shown in Fig. 1, but I prefer to use a stronger spring member 16, than is used in the construction shown in Fig. 1, the advantage of the construction shown in Fig. 1 being that less pressure is required on the handles due to the lighter springs used, to obtain practically the same degree of firm contact between the blades and socket spring members located in member 25.

In using the plug, the handles or push buttons, 15, are pressed towards each other until the blades are parallel and they may be inserted into the sockets in the member 25, and when the handles are released, the spring reaction will force the blades firmly against the socket members to establish a positive electrical contact and a-firm mechanical connection.

It will be noted that the metal conducting parts of the plug comprise two assemblies, one of which consists of a spring strip 16, a rigid contact leg 14, a stamping 17 and a binding screw '19 which, together with a push button 15 are all held firmly together, and that each assembly may be attached to the cap portion 11 by a single rivet 18. This providesa very simple and economical assembly construction. It will also be noted that in addition to their function as springs, the strips 16 serve as conductors of current and that the use of this form of resilient means makes unnecessary the use of pivot hinges or other loose assemblies whichgmight result in arcing of the current passing through the plug.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new:

1. An attachment plug of the character described comprising a body of insulating material having an open chamber formed therein, a strip of resilient conducting metal firmly attached by one end to the body within the chamber and extending outwardly from its point of attachment, a rigid contact blade firmly attached to said strip and extending externally of the chamber at a divergent angle to the median line through the plug, and means connecting the strip and blade and adapted to be manually operated for aligning the blade against'the spring resistance of said strip.

2. The structure defined in claim 1; said means comprising an insulated push button connecting the strip and blade together within the chamber and projecting externally of said body through an opening formed in a wall of said chamber.

eena 3. An attachment plug of the character described comprising a body of insulating material having open chambers formed therein on orposite sides of a median line therethrough, a strip of resilient conducting metal firmly attached by one end to the body within each of said chambers and extending outwardly from their points of attachment, a rigid contact blade firmly attached to each of said strips and extending externally of each chamber at a divergent angle to the median line through the plug, and means connecting the strips and blades and adapted to be manually operated for aligning said blades against the spring resistance of said strips.

SIDNEY M. WEISBERG. 

